Local Eats: A Guide to the Matcha Around NYU
Try the green stuff — it’s delicious!
One of the greatest tragedies of my life is that I can’t drink coffee. To get my very necessary caffeine fix, I turn to the most caffeinated tea I can find: matcha (and occasionally energy drinks because finals week is rough, fam). It’s still not as caffeinated as coffee, but it’s about twice that of black tea.
I’m a long time matcha drinker and I’ve tried a LOT of matcha lattes in my quest to remain a fully function human being. This is partly due to curiosity and partly due to desperation. Read ahead for which ones are worthwhile and which are not.
Argo Tea
3.5/5 ($4.25 for a small)
You would think that a place with the word “tea” in the name would make a killer matcha latte. Sadly, their Vanilla Matcha latte is only pretty good. The matcha is good, bright and fresh tasting, but a little weak. It’s also too sweet and has an unnecessarily strong vanilla flavor. Overall, it’s only worth it because it’s on campus. But it’s not a terrible option if you’ve never had matcha before.
Starbucks
3/5 ($3.75 for a small)
Starbucks technically only sells a Green Tea Latte, but it’s still a good effort at matcha. I actually really like the concentration of matcha flavor and sweetness, but the flavor itself tends to be dusty tasting and bitter. Not my go-to, but I’m not gonna turn one away.
Think Coffee
2/5 ($5 for a small)
Think Coffee is known for being a step up in terms of coffee, so I was excited to try their matcha. But, while the flavor is one of the better on this list, clean and grassy, there are quite large bitter clumps of matcha powder at the bottom. This makes it super unpleasant to drink the last third of the cup, which is especially disappointing when it costs $5 for a small. If you have to, go for the regular English Breakfast. It’s also overpriced, but high quality and way better than the chai latte.
Le Pain Quotidien
4/5 ($4.79 one size only)
I grew up on the west coast without Le Pain Quotidien, so I was excited to try their matcha when I moved to NYC. I was even more excited when it became one of my favorites. It’s a good smooth flavor, not too sweet, and clump free. Definitely somewhere I always stop on my way from Washington Square to 60 Fifth Ave.
Outro
4/5 ($4.75 one size only)
Outro is a small cafe on Broadway half a block south from the Strand, serving creative drinks (Taro latte! Yuzu soda! Red velvet hot chocolate!) as well as a mix of simple and more elaborate food. I first visited for the matcha and I wasn’t disappointed! The matcha latte was strong, though bordering on too strong, and topped with beautiful latte art. The ~ambiance~ is perfect for studying if you like minimalist and well lit, if sometimes loud, spaces. I’ve often bought two or more matcha lattes in a afternoon of studying.
Peet’s Coffee and Tea
5/5 ($3.55 for a small)
Peet’s Coffee remains my favorite, despite the scarcity of locations. The bright green color is sign of the great quality of matcha, and the perfect level of sweetness is the cherry on top. For something different ask for it to be made with honey instead of the regular syrup.
Bonus!
For the best matcha latte of your life, head to Williamsburg for House of Small Wonder. I haven’t tried the food, but the interior is lush with plants, skylights, and wooden walls. The latte is small, and not inexpensive, but served in a teacup and tastier than coffee.
